Story Brings Audiences to Their Senses

Apr 15, 2018 | Connect with Every Audience, Public Speaking Tips, Sell with a Story, Speech Writing, Tell a Story, Make Your Point, Write a Meaningful & Memorable Message | 2 comments

How the Brain Reacts to Stories

I’ve recently discovered new ways to use a story to connect with an audience. I found them in the best-selling book ‘Brain Rules’ by John Medina. In an energetic and entertaining fashion, he introduces new insights into our brains.

For example, one idea that is useful for storytellers. He discusses the power of senses to create vivid and emotional experiences. This helped me understand one of the strengths of my coaches. They are some of the best speakers in the business. And they’ve taught me how to bring life to a story with sensory-rich detail.

What is a Sensory-Rich Story?

Start your narrative by describing the Circumstances and Characters with sensory language. This creates an instant bond with listeners. They might not know why, but they are attracted to the story.

For example, consider the following story opening:

“It was a bitterly cold January afternoon. The howling winds were so loud John could barely think. As he drove over the crest of the hill, he thought, ‘Oh, no!’ He could smell the unmistakable odor of burning wood. Then he got the first glimpse of the charred remains of his house.

Which of Your Emotions Does This Story Passage Trigger?

What do you see?

What do you hear?

What do you small?

What do you feel?

What do you taste?

This last question is the toughest. Taste can trigger strong sensory memories, but they’re not always so obvious. If you have ever been near a house that has burned, there is a lot of material in the air. Sometimes you can actually taste it. It’s not the greatest experience, but, it sticks in your memory.

52 Words to a Fully Engaged Brain

Think about the power of this passage. 52 words — in less than 20 seconds — activated all five of your senses. This the meaning of the phrase ‘creating a connection with an audience.’ Through their own experiences with the cold or a fire, they now feel as if they’re part of your story. This opens them up to hear more of your presentation.

There’s another reason sensory connections are effective. They trigger curiosity in the audience. What questions come to mind as you read the opening lines from the story above?

Where does he live that is so cold?

How did the fire start?

Was anybody in the house?

How much of the house burned down?

Was it salvageable?

Where would John live now?

All these questions, and more, from those 52 words.

It’s incredible how much emotion and curiosity sensory-rich stories can create.

Help your audiences come to their senses. Include as many of them as possible when you develop your stories. You’ll experience a connection that lasts far beyond your time in front of them.

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Story Brings Audiences to Their Senses ultima modifica: 2018-04-15T15:18:23-04:00 da Michael Davis

2 Comments

Jim Kulaga on April 16, 2018 at 6:31 PM

I am interested.
Reply
- Michael Davis on April 17, 2018 at 11:36 AM
  
  Hi Jim. What are you interested in?
  
  Michael
  Reply

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"Michael transformed our everyday managers into conference presenters by coaching them and by challenging the traditional methods they were using to present. The outcome was phenomenal.

Our conference was elevated to a new level of professionalism. Michael will be retained to help make our trainers become better communicators, both visually and verbally and to assist us with next year’s conference. We highly recommend him and Speaking CPR to assist with your next event."

Robert Gerbus, President, Trans Ash, Inc.

Speaking CPR

2018-05-10T09:44:06-04:00

Robert Gerbus, President, Trans Ash, Inc.

"Michael transformed our everyday managers into conference presenters by coaching them and by challenging the traditional methods they were using to present. The outcome was phenomenal. Our conference was elevated to a new level of professionalism. Michael will be retained to help make our trainers become better communicators, both visually and verbally and to assist us with next year’s conference. We highly recommend him and Speaking CPR to assist with your next event."

https://speakingcpr.com/testimonials/robert-gerbus/

“As a former Green Beret and professional storyteller, I give dozens of speeches every year. I am very selective about who trains me.

Michael Davis exceeded every expectation and was one of the best coaches I ever worked with. His quiet professionalism, and unsurpassed knowledge of storytelling helped make my Ted X Cincinnati talk extremely powerful.
I would recommend Michael, as a story and speaking coach to anyone with a high stakes talk to give. Michael will help you take your speech from good to great!”

LTC (Ret.) Scott Mann, Green Beret, Storyteller, Trainer, Coach, Author

Speaking CPR

2018-05-10T09:45:38-04:00

LTC (Ret.) Scott Mann, Green Beret, Storyteller, Trainer, Coach, Author

“As a former Green Beret and professional storyteller, I give dozens of speeches every year. I am very selective about who trains me. Michael Davis exceeded every expectation and was one of the best coaches I ever worked with. His quiet professionalism, and unsurpassed knowledge of storytelling helped make my Ted X Cincinnati talk extremely powerful. I would recommend Michael, as a story and speaking coach to anyone with a high stakes talk to give. Michael will help you take your speech from good to great!”

https://speakingcpr.com/testimonials/ltc-ret-scott-mann/

“We are privileged to have Michael Davis of Speaking CPR as one of the Speaker Coaches for our TED x Cincinnati event. I had the opportunity to be on several of the calls with Michael as he worked his craft with his speakers. I was impressed with how genuine, exuberant, and in touch he was with each speaker.

He truly has a gift in connecting with the heart of each person he works with and helping them to unleash their story into their talk. All of the speakers raved about his work with them. Each of them has had broad experience in speaking, but they all felt that working with Michael raised the bar on their ability to speak. You can listen to all of his speakers, Anthony Munoz, Richard Bernstein and Graeme Joffe, at http://www.tedxcincinnati.com/talks/.”

Allison Wonders Gars
Speaker Coach Manager, TED x Cincinnati

Speaking CPR

2018-03-20T17:08:04-04:00

Allison Wonders Gars
Speaker Coach Manager, TED x Cincinnati

“We are privileged to have Michael Davis of Speaking CPR as one of the Speaker Coaches for our TED x Cincinnati event. I had the opportunity to be on several of the calls with Michael as he worked his craft with his speakers. I was impressed with how genuine, exuberant, and in touch he was with each speaker. He truly has a gift in connecting with the heart of each person he works with and helping them to unleash their story into their talk. All of the speakers raved about his work with them. Each of them has had broad experience in speaking, but they all felt that working with Michael raised the bar on their ability to speak. You can listen to all of his speakers, Anthony Munoz, Richard Bernstein and Graeme Joffe, at http://www.tedxcincinnati.com/talks/.”

https://speakingcpr.com/testimonials/allison-wonders-gars/

“Investing in Michael is one of the best investments I have ever made. I speak on the subject of diversity in the workplace, which can at times be a difficult topic to discuss.

Michael taught me a repeatable process that allows me to create a foundational concept, a logical structure, an opening that grabs the audience’s attention, and a conclusion that encourages my audience to take action that will save them time and money.

I found Michael easy to work with, flexible with his schedule, and a wealth of information about the art of speaking. If you need to improve your presentation or speech, I highly recommend you consider hiring Michael. It is one of the best investments you can make in your own growth.”

Natalie Holder
Founder, QUEST Diversity

Speaking CPR

2018-03-20T17:33:18-04:00

Natalie Holder
Founder, QUEST Diversity

“Investing in Michael is one of the best investments I have ever made. I speak on the subject of diversity in the workplace, which can at times be a difficult topic to discuss. Michael taught me a repeatable process that allows me to create a foundational concept, a logical structure, an opening that grabs the audience’s attention, and a conclusion that encourages my audience to take action that will save them time and money. I found Michael easy to work with, flexible with his schedule, and a wealth of information about the art of speaking. If you need to improve your presentation or speech, I highly recommend you consider hiring Michael. It is one of the best investments you can make in your own growth.”

https://speakingcpr.com/testimonials/natalie-holder/

Speaking CPR